2026 US Nursing Pay Calculator

Calculate US Registered Nurse (RN) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nurse salaries under Title 38 of the U.S. Code. Estimate Nurse I through Nurse V grades, steps 1–10, Special Salary Rate (SSR) location boosts, and shift differential premiums in USD.

Estimated Total Annual Pay
$114,886
Includes +17.06% Locality (Rest of US).
Hourly Rate $40.83
Biweekly $3,277
Overtime (1.5x) Rate: $61.24/hr

analytics Detailed Nursing Salary & Pay Analysis

National Base Pay
$80,080 / yr

The standard Title 38 base rate before locality or Special Salary Rate (SSR) boosts.

SSR / Locality Boost
+$13,662 +17.06%

Special Salary Rate (38 U.S.C. § 7455) or regional locality adjustment for your VAMC facility.

How US Nursing Pay Works (Simple Guide)

If you are searching for a nursing pay calculator, you probably want to know how much money you will actually take home each paycheck. In the United States, especially in federal healthcare systems like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), registered nurse salaries are calculated using five key factors:

  1. Nurse Grade (Level): Based on your nursing degree (ADN vs. BSN vs. MSN) and clinical experience.
  2. Within Grade Step (1 to 10): Raises given automatically based on your years of service.
  3. Location / Special Salary Rate (SSR): Extra pay added to match high cost of living areas like California, New York, or Washington DC.
  4. Shift Differentials: Extra hourly pay for working evenings (+10%), nights (+15%), or weekends (+25%).
  5. Overtime & Holidays: Overtime is paid at 1.5x your hourly rate, and federal holiday work pays double time (100% bonus).
compare_arrows Salary Comparison Scenario Nurse II • Step 4
San Francisco VAMC (SSR + Shifts)
$148,000+ / yr
Includes +62% SSR + Night (+15%) & Weekend (+25%) pay
Rest of US Base Facility
$114,800 / yr
Standard +17.06% locality rate without shift premiums

VA Nurse I Level 3 vs Nurse II Comparison

When you are hired as a Registered Nurse (RN), a Nursing Qualification Board reviews your transcripts, clinical specialty background, and work history to assign your starting grade level and step:

Nurse Grade Education & Experience Required Typical Position
Nurse I (Level 1) Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing New Grad Associate RN
Nurse I (Level 2) BSN Degree OR ADN + 1 Year Experience New Grad BSN / Staff Nurse
Nurse I (Level 3) BSN + 1 to 2 Years Staff Nurse Experience Experienced Staff Nurse
Nurse II BSN + 2 to 3 Years Experience OR Master's (MSN) Charge Nurse / Experienced RN
Nurse III Master's (MSN) / Doctorate (DNP) + Leadership Nurse Practitioner / Nurse Manager / Clinical Specialist

VA Nurse Night Shift Differential Percentage & Premiums

Working off shifts is one of the fastest ways for nurses to boost their gross annual income. Under federal nursing regulations (38 U.S.C. § 7453):

  • Evening Shift (+10%): Applies to hours worked between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM on scheduled evening shifts.
  • Night Shift (+15%): Applies to scheduled night tours (such as 7:00 PM to 7:30 AM).
  • Weekend Duty (+25%): Applies to any shift worked on Saturday or Sunday.
  • Holiday Pay (+100%): Work performed on a federal holiday pays double time.

Title 38 Special Salary Rate List 2026

Hospitals in major metropolitan areas face stiff competition from private hospital systems. To recruit top nurses, the government publishes an official Title 38 Special Salary Rate list 2026 that grants location specific percentage boosts.

For example, nurses at the San Francisco VAMC receive a +62% SSR pay boost on top of national base pay, while nurses in New York City get a +38% boost.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is VA nurse hourly pay calculated? add
VA nurse hourly pay is calculated by dividing total annual salary (base pay plus Special Salary Rate locality adjustment) by 2,087 work hours, which is the official federal work year factor.
What is the difference between VA Nurse I Level 3 vs Nurse II? add
Nurse I Level 3 is for experienced staff nurses with an Associate Degree (ADN) or BSN who have 1 to 2 years of clinical experience. Nurse II requires a BSN with 2 to 3 years of progressive nursing experience or a Master's degree (MSN), placing you on a higher base pay grade.
How to negotiate VA nurse starting step (such as VA Nurse 2 Step 4 salary)? add
You can negotiate your starting step before accepting a formal job offer by submitting past pay stubs, resume details, and specialty certifications (like ICU or OR) to the Nursing Qualification Board. Securing a higher step such as a VA Nurse 2 Step 4 salary can add thousands of dollars to your initial base pay.
What is the VA nurse step increase timeline? add
Under Title 38 regulations, the VA nurse step increase timeline is 52 weeks (1 year) for Steps 1 through 4. For Steps 5 through 10, step increases occur every 104 weeks (2 years), assuming satisfactory performance ratings.
Where can I find the official Title 38 Special Salary Rate list 2026? add
The Department of Veterans Affairs publishes updated Title 38 Special Salary Rate (SSR) tables for local VAMC facilities. Our calculator integrates these 2026 SSR percentage boosts directly into salary results for major metropolitan areas.
What is the VA nurse night shift differential percentage? add
The VA nurse night shift differential percentage is 15% added to your base hourly rate for scheduled night tours (such as 7:00 PM to 7:30 AM). Evening shifts receive 10%, weekend duties receive 25%, and federal holidays pay double (100% bonus).